'Not to apologize! O, Leonard!' 'Stuff and nonsense! Only to show we don't bear malice. Henry had been at you to call ever so long before this, had he not?' 'I can't see any reason for intimacy.' 'I declare, Ave, you are too bad! I only want you just to keep the peace with your own brother. You have led him the life of a dog these three days, and now when I want you to be a little obliging, you talk of intimacy!' 'Only because I know how it will be. If I give that woman an inch, she will take an ell.' 'Let her then. It would be much better than always living at daggers-drawn with one's brother.' Then, after waiting for her to say something, he added, 'If you won't go with me, I shall go alone.' Averil rose, subdued but not convinced, reverencing her brother, but afraid of his concessions. However, the call turned out well. Mrs. Pugh had a talent for making herself agreeable, and probably had liked the boy for his outburst. She would not let Mab be excluded, loaded her with admiration, and was extremely interested in the volunteer practice, so that both the young people were subjugated for the time by her pleasant manners, and went away ashamed of their own rancour against one so friendly and good-natured, and considerably relieved of their burden of animosity. Their greeting to their brother was so cordial that he perceived their good-will, and was sorry that the dread of an evening of warfare had induced him to accept an invitation to dine at the Swan with Sam Axworthy and a party of his friends. CHAPTER X This night is my departing night, For here nae longer must I stay; There's neither friend nor foe of mine But wishes me away. What I have done through lack of wit, I never, never can recall: I hope ye're all my friends as yet. Good night, and joy be with you all. Armstrong's Good Night The storm had blown over, but heavy flakes of cloud still cumbered the air, and gusts of wind portended that it might gather again. Henry Ward took this opportunity of giving his first dinner party. He said it was a necessary return for the civilities they had received; and to Averil's representation that it transgressed the system of rigid economy that so much tormented her, he replied by referring her to Mrs. Pugh for lessons in the combination of style and inexpensiveness.